building vascular networks and Blood-Brain-Barriers through a Biomimetic manufacturing Technology for the fabrication of Human tissues and ORgans

Introduction

Tenths of millions of people with organ failures or suffering from degenerative diseases are waiting for a novel cellular therapy or for a transplant of a donor-compatible organ. The immense majority of these patients will die before receiving the tissue or organ they need.

Current State of Tissue Engineering

Despite the significant advances in tissue engineering, not a single artificial tissue has been used to replace a part of an organ, with the exception of simple or avascular tissues like skin or cartilage.

THOR Project Overview

THOR proposes the development of a revolutionary tissue engineering technology, capable of producing any type of human tissue for organ repair or replacement in case of illness, trauma, or degenerative diseases.

Production Methodology

Patient-tailored tissues will be fabricated by pools of bioinspired mini-robots in fully automated production plants, using the breakthrough incremental technologies of the THOR project:

1. Self-assembling molecules inspired by the extracellular matrix.
2. Self-assembling solid and hollow polymeric fibers.
3. Materials functionalization using photoactivable crosslinkers.
4. Cutting-edge mini robots to weave 3D self-assembling structures with factors and cells with micrometric precision.

Tissue Development Process

THOR tissue arises from high-resolution 3D spatial positioning of self-assembling structures, angiogenic factors, and relevant cell lineages, reprogrammed and expanded in a dedicated bioreactor under controlled conditions.

Long-term Vision

Our long-term vision encompasses:

1. The establishment of a Tissue Engineering industry for personalized organ repair, producing any type of well-vascularized and fully functioning tissues.
2. The maintenance of such tissues alive for long periods of time, for easy transportation to hospitals and clinics, even far from the big cities.

Conclusion

THOR will foster the rise of a new industry and a new biomedical field, while cadaveric donors' transplants will not be necessary.